News Blog

During the Autumn term many ensembles are busy practising for our Christmas with St Cecilia concert which takes place as close as possible to St Cecilia’s Day (patron saint of music) in November. All of our big ensembles took part including the Orchestra, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Sax group, Guitar group, Brass group, Choir Y5&6 and Choir Y3&4. It was particularly pleasurable to be able to have two of our ad hoc groups performing too. It is a tradition at WGPS that children use their initiative and, with guidance, take responsibility for their own development by forming independent ensembles. It must not be assumed that this is an easy option. Far from it and there is lots of behind the scenes work which goes on such as arranging music, coaching and overseeing rehearsals. The rather large year 5 group, Diversity, who are now in year 6, performed Jingle Bell Rock providing the warmth and spirit which is familiar to many of us at Christmas time. By contrast, Little Women gave a rendition of We Three Kings. This group is a classical based group as opposed to a Rock group. It is nice to have such diverse ensembles and it allows the children to appreciate that there is a wealth of music out there to be heard, performed and learned about. Staying with the classical theme our first Piano Trio, aptly named Triojans as there are three of them and they are all Trojans, performed a Christmas Carol together. This was so beautiful to hear particularly as the piano is an instrument which can so often be considered a lonely instrument. 

The concert ran smoothly and with the usual high standard from our children that has now become the expectation. The Choir Y3&4 gave such a lovely performance of The Donkey which had a catchy tune and lots of words; the Choir Y5&6 demonstrated their skill performing I am the Gentle Light with 7 soloists; the Jazz Band gave a touching rendition of Whitney Houston’s One Moment in Time whilst the Orchestra kicked off the whole event with a grand performance of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance. 

Mrs Henderson

Director of Music